natecooper75 Member

I was naturally strong growing up. I started weight training for football when I was in high school which is really one of the best times to get started because you body basically wants to grow. I was able to bench 365 in high school with very poor technique which caused me to develop a shoulder impingment. I only lifted…

I'm at 1355 right now. Bench: 365 lb Squat: 440 lb Deadlift:550 lb My numbers aren't good for my current size, but I want to diet down some and maintain as close to these as possible. I would like to eventually compete in powerlifting and maybe strongman, but I have some work to do before I would feel comfortable…

Since I haven't seen what you say is a form breakdown at the end of your set, it is hard for me to judge. My question to help kind of gauge how severe of a breakdown this might be is, do you squat low or high bar? If you squat low bar, like you are taught to in a lot of the beginner literature, you sometimes will use your…

I think it is a matter of opinion for the most part. The reason I don't have a split routine comes down to what my goals are and how much time I have available to go to the gym each week. I'm not really training for aesthetics as my primary goal. My main pursuit is strength and any aesthetic gains are just a bonus. The…

I read your profile, but there is still some more information that would be helpful. Without knowing exactly what you routine consist of (exercises, reps/set), it is hard to really give you any valuable input. My first question would be, are you training for strength, aesthetics, or borth? Based on what your goals were, I…

The Best Fitness BFPR100 that they sell is pretty solid for you average person. If you don't anticipate needing to squat over 500 lbs, I would suggest that one. If you want something that is a little more sturdy, look at the Titan Fitness Power Rack. I have seen some pretty good reviews on this one and will be purchasing…

I usually look at my head position at the start of the lift if I feel like I'm rounding too much. I have found that it is best for me to keep a neutral head position as opposed to looking up at the ceiling or down to the ground. This seems to make the spine fall in line for me.

Check out the selection of knee/elbow sleeves on liftinglarge.com . They have some from other manufacturers, but the Crusher series are their brand. They are a two ply sleeve which gives some support while providing joint warmth also. I use these personally and I like them a lot. The only downside to these sleeves is that…

Other than just poor form, you really shouldn't be failing lifts in training. I would understand the need for a spotter if you are going for a one rep max or taking a set to failure, but if you are new to lifting, these methods really don't have a place in your program yet.